Yesterday, the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Kyriakos Pierakakis, visited the headquarters of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) in Geneva to discuss the prospect of introducing the IB into public schools with the General Director, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, and other officials from the organization.

In a phone conversation with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), Pierakakis commented: “With the introduction of the International Baccalaureate, the Ministry of Education is offering another opportunity—another choice—for students applying to higher education, without removing the option of admission through the traditional national exams system. We are fulfilling the commitment we made a year ago—to maximize educational opportunities in our country and to accelerate changes that will result in the best possible education for our youth.”

As the Minister pointed out, “The introduction of the IB can only be positive, and the trust shown by the International Organization in introducing the program to our schools is further confirmation that we are on the right track, and we will continue in this direction.”

It is worth noting that the possibility of obtaining the IB in Greece has until now been available exclusively through private educational institutions.

According to sources close to the Ministry of Education, the pilot implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) in five Model High Schools (Athens and Thessaloniki) will begin in September 2026, with the aim of expanding it to all Model High Schools in Greece in the following years.

According to the same sources, “The IB is not simple; on the contrary, it is a different and demanding program—according to many—approaching education in a way that differs from what we are accustomed to in our country.”

“It is a program that prioritizes critical and integrative thinking, along with the development of creative writing, research, and analysis skills, with teaching conducted exclusively in English,” they added.

Meanwhile, according to the same sources, the introduction of the IB into Greek public education represents “undoubtedly a new step in a different direction, and it appears to be part of the Ministry of Education’s overall plan for internationalization and outreach beyond the country’s borders.”

Today, the IB is available in approximately 150 countries worldwide and is recognized by the best universities globally. In Greece, it is currently offered by 16 private schools.

According to what is expected to be implemented, IB holders will be eligible for admission to universities abroad or to non-public universities in Greece, while those who choose the traditional entrance system through national exams will have the opportunity to be admitted to public universities in Greece or non-public universities.